EarthBeat Weekly: Catholics (sort of) support renewable energy

Catholics (sort of) support renewable energy Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change June 30, 2023 A tugboat in New York City pushes a fuel oil barge past the Statue of Liberty Oct 13, 2021. (CNS/Reuters/Brendan McDermid) A new study released by the Pew Research Center on June 28, amid heatwaves and hazardous air quality across the United States, shows that, overall, U.S. adults — and slightly moreso, U.S. Catholics — support the country participating in international efforts to reduce the effects of climate change (75% U.S. adults, 77% U.S. Catholics). Yet, Catholics significantly trailed the general public in their support for phasing out fossil fuels (31% U.S. adults, 22% U.S. Catholics), reported NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe. That's something Jose Aguto, executive director of Catholic Climate Covenant, found surprising given Pope Francis' strong and repeated condemnation of the fossil fuel industry. Still Aguto told Roewe it was "very encouraging" to see that many U.S. adults are aware of local environmental health hazards often associated with environmental justice issues, like too much trash (59%), polluted waters (54%), air pollution (51%) and lack of green space (38%). Read more about Americans' current opinions on climate change and renewable energy and see graphics of Catholic opinions in: Despite pope's pleas, survey finds US Catholics support fossil fuel expansion more than rest of country Of the 18% of U.S. adults polled in the Pew survey who said they had experienced wildfires in the last year, 85% said they think climate change contributed to that extreme weather experience.  In a report by Kimberley Heatherington for OSV News, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explains, "Wildfires require the alignment of a number of factors, including temperature, humidity, and the lack of moisture in fuels, such as trees, shrubs, grasses, and forest debris. All these factors have strong direct or indirect ties to climate variability and climate change." "Yes, the warming climate has increased the severity, the frequency and the extent of fire in North American forest ecosystems," said Glenn Juday, professor emeritus of forest ecology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Read more: Wildfires have always occurred, but experts say warming climate is increasing severity And in case you missed it, on June 15, the NCR Editorial Staff said, "Air quality is a justice issue."   Kevin Hargaden, theologian (right), and Ciara Murphy, environmental biologist, authors of "The Parish as Oasis: An Introduction to Practical Environmental Care" are seen in the polytunnel in the garden behind Gardiner Street Parish in Dublin. (Courtesy of Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice) What else is new on EarthBeat: Irish bishops ask parishes to conserve 30% of property for pollinators, biodiversity The initiative has the potential to make a difference to local biodiversity as well as create awareness of global conservation efforts, particularly the agreement of countries at the 2022 United Nations conference on biological diversity, COP15, to return 30% of land to nature. It also strives to increase awareness of church teaching on ecology. This story is part of "Growing a Green Church," an ongoing series focused on churches' efforts to steward their buildings and land effectively in the context of a changing climate. Find more stories in the series here.  Church of England divests from fossil fuels The Church of England announced June 22 that it will cease investments in Shell, BP, ExxonMobil and other top oil and gas companies after concluding all are out of step with worldwide efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, reported NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe. Communities and planet benefit when we save church buildings on the brink Choices made about whether to keep or sell, preserve or demolish large, old, often empty buildings are one way churches can combat climate change, reported Katie Bean for The Christian Century. Maintaining these structures, though challenging, shows a commitment to preserving God's creation. This story is also part of the "Growing a Green Church" series. How a Mexican spiritual leader preserves the sacred knowledge of a volcano known as El Popo "I respect the (Catholic) religion because we grew up in this place, but the mountain speaks to us in the words of our grandparents, not in the words of the conquerors," said Moisés Vega, a 64-year-old "granicero" who says he can speak the sacred language of volcanoes to ask for good weather and a good crop, María Teresa Hernández reported for The Associated Press. Ukraine military doctors draw on faith and nature to heal wounds of war In western Ukraine, a military hospital's rural campus offers some four-plus miles of walking trails, reported Gina Christian for OSV News. When soldiers struggle to rest at night, they're given the chance to temporarily encamp with a neighboring army: bees. After cyclone's destruction, Peruvians face dengue epidemic Cyclone Yaku's path through Peru's northern region in March was so destructive that its direct effects — such as the destruction of homes by floods and landslides — and indirect effects — especially an unprecedented outbreak of dengue fever — are still being felt today, reported Eduardo Campos Lima for OSV News. Golden Rule boat sets sail for 'a nuclear-free world' Called the world's first modern protest ship, the Golden Rule is now undertaking a 13-month, 11,000-mile journey on waterways around the eastern half of the U.S. to draw attention to the dangers of nuclear weapons, reported Michael Centore for NCR. "The bylaws of the Golden Rule were written after the Fukushima [Japan] nuclear disaster in 2011 and reflect a concern about nuclear energy," explained project manager Helen Jaccard.   What's happening in other climate news: Why Climate Change Is Key to 'Bidenomics' —Justin Worland for TIME Loyola Marymount University wins national zero waste competition —Ignatian Solidarity Network Its promised land drying, Mormon Church works to save the Great Salt Lake —Karin Brulliard for The Washington Post Solar sprawl is tearing up the Mojave Desert. Is there a better way? —Sammy Roth for the Los Angeles Times Wildfire Smoke and High Heat Have Something in Common. Guess What. — Raymond Zhong and Delger Erdenesanaa for The New York Times Oregon county sues big oil over 2021 heatwave that killed dozens of people —Dharna Noor for The Guardian   Final Beat: I'll be on vacation next week and NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe will prepare this newsletter for you while I'm away.  If you like what you read here, be sure to support our reporting by becoming a NCR Forward member. Members get first access to special events, updates from our publisher and newsroom, and opportunities to give feedback through surveys and polls. Thanks for reading EarthBeat! Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org   Featured Advertisers   Looking to Hire? Offering Retreats? Selling Books? Place an Ad in NCR's Online Classified Section for Only $75 per Month!   Advertisement